Out of shape? A.J. actually ahead of Aldon

There is good news for those fretting over what A.J. Jenkins’ out-of-shape opening to his NFL career could portend for his future: He’s actually off to a better start than last year’s first-round pick, Aldon Smith.

As you are likely aware, Jenkins followed the huffing-and-puffing finish to his first practice Friday with massive ice packs wrapped around his aching thighs and hamstrings and a confession: “I’ve got to get in shape,” he said.

Jenkins’ performance earned him a public tsk-tsking from Jim Harbaugh, drew widespread media attention and no doubt had a few fans drawing conclusions about his dedication while invoking the name of Rashaun Dorrell Woods (sorry).

To those up in arms, I invite you to travel back to early June when Smith, the No. 7 overall pick, arrived at San Jose State during the lockout for his first workout with veteran teammates such as Justin Smith, Isaac Sopoaga, Ray McDonald and Parys Haralson.

How’d that go for Aldon? Well, Sopoaga was still laughing about the rookie’s performance a week after he debuted.

“I wish his agent would have warned him about this being a different level of training,” Sopoaga said at the time. “I was kind of feeling bad for him when our first time last week he was running the hills and he was drooling, he was throwing up. I was thinking ‘Uh oh, come on now. Welcome to the pros.’”

And there was more: Smith was so sore that he didn’t even show up the next day at SJSU.

“He said he needed a back massage because his back was tight,” Sopoaga said. “It was funny.”

Smith was fortunate in one sense: There were no reporters present last year to document his humbling welcome-to-the-NFL moment.

Jenkins, of course, wasn’t as a lucky last week, but he did top Smith by keeping his breakfast down and showing up Friday afternoon for his second NFL practice, a less strenuous session in which he fared better physically.

The point of all this? Jenkins is hardly the first rookie who was unprepared, fitness-wise, for the next level.